Nosegay

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"posy" redirects here. For the gossamer-winged butterflies, see Drupadia.
Queen Elizabeth II (centre, in blue) and Prince Philip hold nosegays by Rosemary Hughes as they leave Wakefield Cathedral after the 2005 Royal Maundy

A nosegay, tussie-mussie, or posy is a small flower bouquet, typically given as a gift. They have existed in some form since at least medieval times, when they were carried or worn around the head or bodice.[1] Doilies are traditionally used to bind the stems in these arrangements. Alternatively, "posy holders," available in a variety of shapes and materials (although often silver), enable the wearing of these arrangements "at the waist, in the hair, or secured with a brooch." [2]

The term nosegay arose in fifteenth-century Middle English as a combination of nose and gay (the latter then meaning "ornament"). So a nosegay was an ornament that appeals to the nose or nostril.[3]

The term tussie-mussie comes from the reign of Queen Victoria (1837–1901), when the small bouquets became a popular fashion accessory. Typically, tussie-mussies include floral symbolism from the language of flowers, and therefore may be used to send a message to the recipient.[4]

  • A bouquet of roses

  • A plastic posy

  • A wedding tussie-mussie

  • A bouquet arrangement against a blue sky

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Head Garlands and Nosegays". Yankee Peddler Festival. May 14, 2008. 
  2. ↑ Felbinger, Elaine (May-June 2005). "Tussie Mussies". SUBROSA: The Huntington Rose and Perennial Gardens Newsletter (http://huntingtonbotanical.org/) (42). Retrieved 26 January 2014. 
  3. ↑ "Word of the Day: nosegay". Merriam-Webster Online. December 25, 2010. 
  4. ↑ Tussie-Mussies, the Victorian Art of Expressing Yourself in the Language of Flowers. Workman Publishing. 1993. 
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